Driving method of privacy apparatus, privacy apparatus and manufacturing method of privacy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A driving method of a privacy apparatus is provided. The privacy apparatus includes a light-transmissive layer and a plurality of electrically switchable optical structures. The light-transmissive layer includes a plurality of trenches not crossing over each other. The electrically switchable optical structures are respectively disposed in the trenches. The driving method of the privacy apparatus includes applying a driving electric field to a part of the trenches to render a part of the electrically switchable optical structures light-transmissive, and maintaining the other part of the electrically switchable optical structures opaque. Besides, a privacy apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 106124847, filed on Jul. 25, 2017. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a driving method of an apparatus, an apparatusand a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a driving method of a privacy apparatus, a privacy apparatusand a manufacturing method thereof.

Description of Related Art

In relevant research on displays in recent years, the privacy functionof displays has drawn more and more attention. Since people seek toprotect their personal privacy when using relevant products, there is anincreasing demand for the displays equipped with the privacy function.Also, the application of common privacy displays has been extended fromnotebook computers and liquid crystal monitors to portable consumeraudio and video products, such as mobile phones, tablets and so on. Torealize the privacy function, a common privacy design is to attach aprivacy film to the front of a display. The privacy film may have ablinds shaped microstructure for shielding large-angle display light, sothat the display can normally display an image at a normal viewing angleor within a certain viewing angle range around the normal viewing angle,while the display cannot clearly display an image at a larger obliqueviewing angle.

However, due to the design of period of the microstructure in theprivacy film, under some circumstances, the microstructure in theprivacy film may interfere with the period of display pixels of thedisplay, with the result that an effect of moiré is caused on a displayscreen of the display. A user usually has to choose and buy the privacyfilm according to the models (or resolutions) of different displays. Aprivacy angle of the privacy film is usually fixed and unadjustable,which reduces use convenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a driving method of a privacy apparatus, in whicha switchable privacy function is provided.

The invention provides a privacy apparatus having an easy-to-usefunction and a good display effect.

The invention provides a manufacturing method of a privacy apparatus, bywhich the privacy apparatus as described above can be manufactured.

An embodiment of the invention directs to a driving method of a privacyapparatus, wherein the privacy apparatus includes a light-transmissivelayer and a plurality of electrically switchable optical structures. Thelight-transmissive layer includes a plurality of trenches not crossingover each other. The electrically switchable optical structures arerespectively disposed in the trenches. The driving method includesapplying a driving electric field to a part of the trenches to render apart of the electrically switchable optical structureslight-transmissive, and maintaining the other part of the electricallyswitchable optical structures opaque.

According to an embodiment of the invention, in a first mode, the otherpart of the electrically switchable optical structures are separatedfrom each other by a first interval; in a second mode, the other part ofthe electrically switchable optical structures are separated from eachother by a second interval, wherein the first interval is different fromthe second interval.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrically switchableoptical structure includes a first electrically switchable opticalstructure and a second electrically switchable optical structure thatare stacked in an upper-and-lower manner in each of the trenches, thedriving electric field applied to one of the trenches renders one of thefirst electrically switchable optical structure and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure in the one of the trencheslight-transmissive, and the other of the first electrically switchableoptical structure and the second electrically switchable opticalstructure in the one of the trenches is maintained opaque.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrically switchableoptical structure includes a first electrically switchable opticalstructure and a second electrically switchable optical structure thatare stacked in an upper-and-lower manner in each of the trenches, andthe driving electric field applied to one of the trenches renders boththe first electrically switchable optical structure and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure in the one of the trencheslight-transmissive.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrically switchableoptical structure includes a first electrically switchable opticalstructure and a second electrically switchable optical structure thatare stacked in an upper-and-lower manner in each of the trenches, afirst driving electric field is applied to a first part of the trenchesand a second driving electric field is applied to a second part of thetrenches, so that the first electrically switchable optical structureand the second electrically switchable optical structure in the firstpart of the trenches are both rendered light-transmissive, and that oneof the first electrically switchable optical structure and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure in the second part of thetrenches is rendered light-transmissive and the other rendered opaque,wherein the first driving electric field is different from the seconddriving electric field.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a privacy apparatusincluding a light-transmissive layer, a plurality of first electricallyswitchable optical structures, a plurality of second electricallyswitchable optical structures, a first electrode layer and a secondelectrode layer. The light-transmissive layer includes a plurality oftrenches not crossing over each other. The first electrically switchableoptical structures and the second electrically switchable opticalstructures are respectively disposed in the trenches, and each of thesecond electrically switchable optical structures is stacked with one ofthe first electrically switchable optical structures in anupper-and-lower manner in one of the trenches. The first electrode layeris disposed on a first side of the light-transmissive layer and includesa plurality of first electrodes separated from each other, wherein thefirst electrically switchable optical structures are respectivelylocated between the first electrodes and the second electricallyswitchable optical structures. The second electrode layer is disposed ona second side of the light-transmissive layer and includes a pluralityof second electrodes separated from each other, wherein the secondelectrically switchable optical structures are respectively locatedbetween the second electrodes and the first electrically switchableoptical structures.

According to an embodiment of the invention, on a plane of the privacyapparatus, an extension direction of each of the trenches is inclinedrelative to an edge of the privacy apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the light-transmissivelayer includes a first trench and a second trench not crossing over eachother. On the plane of the privacy apparatus, the extension direction ofthe first trench is inclined at a first inclination angle relative tothe edge of the privacy apparatus, and the extension direction of thesecond trench is inclined at a second inclination angle relative to theedge of the privacy apparatus, wherein the first inclination angle isdifferent from the second inclination angle.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the trenchesincludes a first section and a second section that are connected to eachother at their ends. On the plane of the privacy apparatus, theextension direction of the first section is different from the extensiondirection of the second section.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the extension directions ofthe first sections of two adjacent trenches on the plane of the privacyapparatus are inclined at different inclination angles relative to theedge of the privacy apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the trenches are parallelto each other.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the trenches are arrangedat non-equal intervals.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a material of the firstelectrically switchable optical structures and the second electricallyswitchable optical structures includes a polymer dispersed liquidcrystal material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a part of the firstelectrically switchable optical structures and a part of the secondelectrically switchable optical structures are of a first color when inan opaque state, and the other part of the first electrically switchableoptical structures and the other part of the second electricallyswitchable optical structures are of a second color when in an opaquestate.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides a privacy apparatusincluding a light-transmissive layer, a plurality of electricallyswitchable optical structures, a first electrode layer and a secondelectrode layer. The light-transmissive layer includes a plurality oftrenches not crossing over each other, wherein on a plane of the privacyapparatus, an extension direction of each of the trenches is inclinedrelative to an edge of the privacy apparatus. The electricallyswitchable optical structures are respectively disposed in the trenches.The first electrode layer is disposed on a first side of thelight-transmissive layer and includes a plurality of first electrodesseparated from each other. The second electrode layer is disposed on asecond side of the light-transmissive layer and includes a plurality ofsecond electrodes separated from each other. The electrically switchableoptical structures are respectively located between the first electrodesand the second electrodes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the trenches have at leastone inclination angle relative to the edge of the privacy apparatus, andthe inclination angle is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and smallerthan or equal to 75 degrees.

According to an embodiment of the invention, on the plane of the privacyapparatus, the extension directions of at least two of the trenches areinclined at different inclination angles relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus.

A further alternative embodiment of the invention provides amanufacturing method of a privacy apparatus, the manufacturing methodincluding forming a light-transmissive layer including a plurality oftrenches not crossing over each other. A mask having at least oneopening is placed on the light-transmissive layer, so that the openingexposes a first part of the trenches, and the mask shields a second partof the trenches. A first electrically switchable optical material isfilled into the first part of the trenches exposed by the opening of themask. After the mask is removed, a second electrically switchableoptical material is filled into the second part of the trenches, whereinthe first electrically switchable optical material and the secondelectrically switchable optical material are of different colors.

Based on the above, the driving method of the privacy apparatus of theinvention is applying the driving electric field to a part of thetrenches to render a part of the electrically switchable opticalstructures light-transmissive, and maintaining the other part of theelectrically switchable optical structures opaque. Therefore, theinterval between the light-shielding trenches in the privacy apparatuscan be adjusted or changed without a need to replace the privacyapparatus, and the invention is applicable to displays of differentspecifications. In some embodiments of the invention, the firstelectrically switchable optical structure and the second electricallyswitchable optical structure that are stacked in an upper-and-lowermanner are disposed in the same trench. Therefore, in the privacyapparatus of some embodiments of the invention, by changing thelight-transmissive state of the first electrically switchable opticalstructure and the second electrically switchable optical structure thatare stacked in an upper-and-lower manner, the privacy angle can beadjusted.

To make the above features and advantages of the invention morecomprehensible, embodiments accompanied with drawings are described indetail as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in afirst mode according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in asecond mode according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a privacy apparatus according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are schematic top views of privacy apparatusesaccording to different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a schematic top view of a privacy apparatus according tostill another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic partially enlarged view of the privacy apparatusin FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views showing a manufacturingprocess of a privacy apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in afirst mode according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is aschematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in a second modeaccording to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1Aand FIG. 1B, a privacy apparatus 10 includes a light-transmissive layer110 and a plurality of electrically switchable optical structures 120.The light-transmissive layer 110 includes a plurality of trenches 130,and the electrically switchable optical structures 120 are respectivelydisposed in the trenches 130. FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B only illustratecross-sectional views. However, as seen in a top view of the privacyapparatus 10, the trenches 130 may each be, for example, a strip-shapedtrench 130, each of the electrically switchable optical structures 120may have a strip-shaped structure, and the trenches 130 do not crossover each other.

The electrically switchable optical structure 120 is composed of, forexample, an electrically switchable optical material. Such electricallyswitchable optical material may be a liquid crystal material such aspolymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). Therefore, opticalcharacteristics of the electrically switchable optical structure 120 maychange under a specific driving electric field. For example, theelectrically switchable optical structure 120 may change from beinglight-shielding opaque to being light-transmissive under a certainelectric field. By switching the optical characteristics of theelectrically switchable optical structure 120, a privacy function of theprivacy apparatus 10 is made available or unavailable. In addition, inall the embodiments mentioned herein, by adding a pigment, a dye or acolorant and so on, a part of the electrically switchable opticalstructures 120 can be of a first color when in the opaque state, and theother part of the electrically switchable optical structures 120 can beof a second color when in the opaque state, wherein the first color isdifferent from the second color. Accordingly, although a display screenis not clear when viewed by a user from a side viewing angle, a specificpattern composed of the first color and the second color can be seen.

In the present embodiment, the privacy apparatus 10 further includes afirst electrode layer 140, a second electrode layer 150, a firstsubstrate 160 and a second substrate 170. The electrically switchableoptical structure 120 is disposed between the first substrate 160 andthe second substrate 170. The first electrode layer 140 is disposed on afirst side 111 of the light-transmissive layer 110, located between theelectrically switchable optical structure 120 and the first substrate160 and including a plurality of first electrodes 142 separated fromeach other. The second electrode layer 150 is disposed on a second side112 of the light-transmissive layer 110, located between theelectrically switchable optical structure 120 and the second substrate170 and including a plurality of second electrodes 152 separated fromeach other. In addition, the first electrode layer 140 and the secondelectrode layer 150 further include compensation electrodes 144 and 154that are disposed where the light-transmissive layer 110 is located andoutside the trenches 130. In other words, both the first electrode layer140 and the second electrode layer 150 roughly fully covers the wholearea of the privacy apparatus 10. When all the electrically switchableoptical structures 120 of the privacy apparatus 10 are switched to thelight-transmissive state, the light transmittance of the privacyapparatus 10 is roughly uniform over the whole area, thus avoidingvisual nonuniformity caused by the distribution of electrode materials.

In the present embodiment, a required voltage signal may be applied tothe first electrode 142 and the second electrode 152, so as to generatea required driving electric field in the corresponding trench 130. Inaddition, the voltage signal to be applied to the first electrode 142and the second electrode 152 may be determined upon characteristics ofthe electrically switchable optical structure 120. In some embodiments,an AC (alternating current) voltage signal may be applied to at leastone of the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 152. Forexample, the voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode 142and the second electrode 152 may be an AC voltage having a frequency of8.3 ms (micro seconds) to 16.67 ms. However, the invention is notlimited thereto. In other alternative embodiments, a DC (direct current)voltage signal may be applied to the first electrode 142 and the secondelectrode 152.

A driving method of the privacy apparatus 10 includes applying a drivingelectric field to a part of the trenches 130 to render a part of theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 light-transmissive, andmaintaining the other part of the electrically switchable opticalstructures 120 opaque. Referring to FIG. 1A, the driving electric fieldapplied to the trenches 130 b, 130 c, 130 e and 130 f renders theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches130 b, 130 c, 130 e and 130 f light-transmissive. Meanwhile, the firstelectrode 142 and the second electrode 152 respectively on both sides ofthe trenches 130 a and 130 d may be electrically grounded, so that theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches130 a and 130 d are maintained opaque. Therefore, in the first mode, thetrenches 130 a and 130 d in which the electrically switchable opticalstructures 120 are opaque are separated from each other by a firstinterval D1. Herein, the interval refers to a distance measured from theright edge of the trench of one of the opaque electrically switchableoptical structures 120 to the right edge of the trench of the nextopaque electrically switchable optical structure 120. In otherembodiments, the interval may also refer to a distance between thecenters of the trenches of two adjacent opaque electrically switchableoptical structures 120, or a distance between the left edges of thetrenches.

In the present embodiment, voltages V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6 arerespectively applied to the first electrodes 142 of the trenches 130 a,130 b, 130 c, 130 d, 130 e and 130 f. Voltages V7, V8, V9, V10, V11 andV12 are respectively applied to the second electrodes 152 of thetrenches 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 130 d, 130 e and 130 f. To render theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 in the trenches 130 b,130 c, 130 e and 130 f light-transmissive, a voltage difference betweenthe voltages V2 and V8, a voltage difference between the voltages V3 andV9, a voltage difference between the voltages V5 and V11 and a voltagedifference between the voltages V6 and V12 may be greater than athreshold value capable of rendering the electrically switchable opticalstructure 120 light-transmissive. For example, in the trench 130 b, if adriving electric field capable of rendering the electrically switchableoptical structure 120 light-transmissive is generated by a voltagedifference of 20 V (voltage), one of the voltage V2 and the voltage V8may be an AC voltage having an amplitude of 20 V, and the other may be 0V or ground. In addition, a voltage difference between the voltages V1and V7 and a voltage difference between the voltages V4 and V10 must besmaller than the threshold value capable of rendering the electricallyswitchable optical structure 120 light-transmissive. Alternatively, thevoltages V1, V7, V4 and V10 may all be 0 V or ground, so that theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches130 a and 130 d are maintained opaque. However, the invention is notlimited thereto.

In the second mode, as shown in FIG. 1B, the driving electric field isapplied to the trenches 130 b, 130 c, 130 d and 130 e to render theelectrically switchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches130 b, 130 c, 130 d and 130 e light-transmissive, and the electricallyswitchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches 130 a and 130f are maintained opaque. Thus, in the second mode, the opaqueelectrically switchable optical structures 120 disposed in the trenches130 a and 130 f are separated from each other by a second interval D2.

It is clear from FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B that the first interval D1 isdifferent from the second interval D2. That is, by adjusting the applieddriving electric field, different privacy pitches (namely, intervalsbetween the opaque electrically switchable optical structures 120) canbe obtained. In some embodiments, the first interval D1 and the secondinterval D2 are, for example, greater than or equal to 150 um andsmaller than or equal to 450 um. A width W of the trench 130 is, forexample, greater than or equal to 1 um and smaller than or equal to 7um. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The user may properlyadjust the privacy pitch of the privacy apparatus 10 according to adisplay equipped with the privacy apparatus 10 to prevent moiré fromappearing on the display screen and affecting display quality.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in adriving mode according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 2, a privacy apparatus 10A is similar to the privacy apparatus 10,and includes the light-transmissive layer 110 and a plurality ofelectrically switchable optical structures 120A. Specifically, thelight-transmissive layer 110 includes a plurality of trenches 130, andthe electrically switchable optical structures 120A are respectivelydisposed in the trenches 130. The electrically switchable opticalstructure 120A includes a first electrically switchable opticalstructure 121 and a second electrically switchable optical structure 122that are stacked in an upper-and-lower manner in each of the trenches130. In the present embodiment, by selecting materials and compositionsthereof, the first electrically switchable optical structure 121 and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure 122 can be renderedlight-transmissive under different driving electric fields. Therefore,the first electrically switchable optical structure 121 and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure 122 in the same trench 130 mayboth be opaque or both be light-transmissive, and it is also possiblethat one of them becomes light-transmissive and the other is maintainedopaque.

In an embodiment, a material of the first electrically switchableoptical structure 121 may include a low voltage type polymer dispersedliquid crystal (PDLC) material, and a material of the secondelectrically switchable optical structure 122 may include a high voltagetype polymer dispersed liquid crystal material. In an embodiment, thedriving electric field (e.g., a voltage difference between the firstelectrode 142 and the second electrode 152) applied to the trenches 130a, 130 b, 130 c, 130 d, 130 e and 130 f is greater than the drivingelectric field under which the first electrically switchable opticalstructure 121 may become light-transmissive and smaller than the drivingelectric field under which the second electrically switchable opticalstructure 122 may become light-transmissive. Under such driving electricfield, in each of the trenches 130, the first electrically switchableoptical structure 121 becomes light-transmissive and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure 122 is maintained opaque.Thus, the privacy apparatus 10A has a viewing angle θ1 at this moment.

If the first electrically switchable optical structure 121 and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure 122 disposed in thetrenches 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 130 d, 130 e and 130 f are both maintainedopaque, the privacy apparatus 10A has a viewing angle θ2, and theviewing angle θ2 is smaller than the viewing angle θ1. Therefore, in thepresent embodiment, by adjusting the driving electric field, the firstelectrically switchable optical structure 121 and the secondelectrically switchable optical structure 122 stacked in anupper-and-lower manner in the trench 130 can be renderedlight-transmissive or be maintained opaque, thereby switching the sizeof the viewing angle of the privacy apparatus 10A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a privacy apparatus in adriving mode according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 3, the structural design and constituent members of the privacyapparatus 10A may be understood with reference to relevant descriptionsof the embodiment of FIG. 2, and will be omitted herein. In theembodiment of FIG. 3, the driving electric field applied to each of thetrenches 130 is different from that of the embodiment of FIG. 2. Asshown in FIG. 3, the driving mode of the present embodiment includes,for example, applying a first driving electric field to the trenches 130c and 130 f, and applying a driving electric field different from thefirst driving electric field to the trenches 130 a, 130 b, 130 d and 130e. The first driving electric field is greater than the driving electricfield under which the first electrically switchable optical structure121 and the second electrically switchable optical structure 122 arechanged into the light-transmissive state. Therefore, the first drivingelectric field renders both the first electrically switchable opticalstructure 121 and the second electrically switchable optical structure122 disposed in the trenches 130 c and 130 f light-transmissive. Thedriving electric field applied to the trenches 130 a, 130 b, 130 d and130 e renders the first electrically switchable optical structure 121and the second electrically switchable optical structure 122 within aspecific region S opaque, and renders the first electrically switchableoptical structure 121 and the second electrically switchable opticalstructure 122 disposed outside the specific region S in the trenches 130a, 130 b, 130 d and 130 e light-transmissive, or more light-transmissivethan within the specific region S.

In the present embodiment, the voltage difference (namely the drivingelectric field) between the voltages V3 and V9 and the voltagedifference between the voltages V6 and V12 are, for example, greaterthan the voltage difference required for changing the first electricallyswitchable optical structure 121 and the second electrically switchableoptical structure 122 into the light-transmissive state. In addition,the voltages V1, V4, V8 and V11 respectively applied to the trenches 130a, 130 b, 130 d and 130 e are, for example, 0 V or ground, and thevoltages V2, V5, V7 and V10 are, for example, floating. However, theinvention is not limited thereto.

In such driving mode, a connecting line F1 between the first electrode142 of the trench 130 a and the second electrode 152 of the trench 130 bis roughly an equipotential line of 0 V or ground voltage, and aconnecting line F2 between the second electrode 152 of the trench 130 band the first electrode 142 of the trench 130 c may roughly represent anelectrical field having a voltage difference of 20 V. Therefore, thedistribution of the opaque specific region S is roughly along theconnecting line F1. At this moment, the privacy apparatus 10A has aviewing angle θ3 deviating toward one side when performing the privacyfunction in the driving manner shown in FIG. 3. For example, a viewingangle θ3A of the privacy apparatus 10A on one side is greater than aviewing angle θ3B thereof on the other side. In other embodiments, thesame or similar methods may be used to cause the privacy apparatus 10Ato have a viewing angle deviating toward the other side. Details thereofare omitted herein. Therefore, when the double layer electricallyswitchable optical structure 120A is disposed in the trench 130, thedirection of a privacy viewing angle of the privacy apparatus 10A can beadjusted by the above method.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a privacy apparatus according to anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a privacy apparatus 20includes a light-transmissive layer 210 and a plurality of electricallyswitchable optical structures 220. The light-transmissive layer 210includes a plurality of trenches 230, and the electrically switchableoptical structures 220 are respectively disposed in the trenches 230. Ona plane of the rectangular privacy apparatus 20, the trenches 230 areparallel to each other and an extension direction of each of thetrenches 230 is perpendicular to one edge E20 of the privacy apparatus20. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, althoughthe trenches 230 are arranged at equal intervals in FIG. 4, they may bearranged at non-equal intervals in other embodiments.

In the present embodiment, in each of the trenches 230, the electricallyswitchable optical structures 220 (having a structural design as shownin FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in cross-section) stacked in an upper-and-lowermanner may be disposed, and the privacy apparatus 20 may be driven usingthe driving method described in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B or the drivingmethod described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. That is, the electricallyswitchable optical structures 220 in different trenches 230 can beindependently driven to be light-transmissive or be opaque. Depending ondifferent desired privacy effects, the privacy apparatus 20 may renderthe electrically switchable optical structures 220 in each of thetrenches 230 opaque and having a first pitch in a first mode, and mayrender the electrically switchable optical structures 220 in only a partof the trenches 230 opaque and having a second pitch in a second mode.To realize the desired privacy effect, it is even possible to render oneof the upper and lower stacked electrically switchable opticalstructures 220 in the same trench 230 opaque and the otherlight-transmissive. Of course, the upper and lower stacked electricallyswitchable optical structures 220 in the same trench 230 may both beopaque or both be light-transmissive at the same time.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are schematic top views of privacy apparatusesaccording to other embodiments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5A, aprivacy apparatus 30A is roughly similar to the privacy apparatus 20,and the difference between the two mainly lies in the direction of thetrench. In the present embodiment, the privacy apparatus 30A includes alight-transmissive layer 310 and a plurality of electrically switchableoptical structures 320. The light-transmissive layer 310 includes aplurality of trenches 330, and the electrically switchable opticalstructures 320 are respectively disposed in the trenches 330.Specifically, on a plane of the privacy apparatus 30A, the trenches 330are parallel to each other and an extension direction of each of thetrenches 330 is inclined relative to one edge E30 of the privacyapparatus 30A. In the present embodiment, in each of the trenches 330,the electrically switchable optical structures 320 (having a structuraldesign as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in cross-section) stacked in anupper-and-lower manner may be disposed, and the privacy apparatus 30Amay be driven using the driving method described in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1Bor the driving method described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5B, a privacy apparatus 30B is roughly similar to theprivacy apparatus 30A, but the trenches 330 of the privacy apparatus 30Bare arranged at non-equal intervals. In addition, in each of thetrenches 330 of the privacy apparatus 30B, only one single electricallyswitchable optical structure 320 (having a structural design as shown inFIG. 1A and FIG. 1B in cross-section) may be disposed or theelectrically switchable optical structures 320 (having a structuraldesign as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in cross-section) stacked in anupper-and-lower manner may be disposed. Moreover, the privacy apparatus30B may be driven using the driving method described in FIG. 1A and FIG.1B or the driving method described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5C, a privacy apparatus 30C is roughly similar to theprivacy apparatus 30A. Specifically, the trench 330 of thelight-transmissive layer 310 of the privacy apparatus 30C includes afirst trench 331 and a second trench 332, and the electricallyswitchable optical structures 320 are respectively disposed in the firsttrenches 331 and the second trenches 332. On a plane of the privacyapparatus 30C, an extension direction of the first trench 331 isinclined at a first inclination angle α1 relative to the edge E30 of theprivacy apparatus 30C, and an extension direction of the second trench332 is inclined at a second inclination angle α2 relative to the edgeE30 of the privacy apparatus 30C, wherein the first inclination angle α1is different from the second inclination angle α2. The first trench 331and the second trench 332 may intersect each other but do not cross overeach other. In each of the trenches 330, one single electricallyswitchable optical structure 320 (having a structural design as shown inFIG. 1A and FIG. 1B in cross-section) may be disposed or twoelectrically switchable optical structures 320 (having a structuraldesign as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in cross-section) stacked in anupper-and-lower manner may be disposed.

In the present embodiment, the first inclination angle α1 and the secondinclination angle α2 are, for example, greater than or equal to 30degrees and smaller than or equal to 75 degrees. An angle difference Δαbetween the first inclination angle α1 and the second inclination angleα2 is, for example, greater than or equal to 1 degree and smaller thanor equal to 6 degrees. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Inaddition, the first trenches 331 are parallel to each other and may bearranged at equal intervals or non-equal intervals. The second trenches332 are parallel to each other and may be arranged at equal intervals ornon-equal intervals. The interval between the first trenches 331 may beequal to the interval between the second trenches 332. In otherembodiments, the trench 330 in the privacy apparatus 30C may be inclinedat three or more different angles relative to the edge E30 of theprivacy apparatus 30C.

The privacy apparatus 30C may be driven using the driving methoddescribed in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. For example, the electricallyswitchable optical structures in the trenches 330 having the sameinclination angle may be opaque while the electrically switchableoptical structures in the other trenches 330 having differentinclination angles are rendered light-transmissive, thereby realizingthe desired privacy effect. In some embodiments, it is also possible torender all the electrically switchable optical structures in thetrenches 330 having different inclination angles opaque. In addition,the privacy apparatus 30C may also be driven using the driving methoddescribed in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, so as to provide the desired privacyviewing angle.

FIG. 6A is a schematic top view of a privacy apparatus according tostill another embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 6A, aprivacy apparatus 40 includes a light-transmissive layer 410 and aplurality of electrically switchable optical structures 420. Thelight-transmissive layer 410 includes a plurality of trenches 430, andthe electrically switchable optical structures 420 are respectivelydisposed in the trenches 430. Specifically, each of the trenches 430includes a first section 430 a and a second section 430 b. The firstsection 430 a and the second section 430 b are connected to each otherat their ends. Moreover, on a plane of the privacy apparatus 40, anextension direction of the first section 430 a is different from anextension direction of the second section 430 b. That is, each of thetrenches 430 has a bent structure formed by alternately connecting thefirst section 430 a and the second section 430 b. Herein, for thepurposes of explanation, the first section 430 a refers to a linesegment extending in an upper-right-to-lower-left direction, and thesecond section 430 b refers to a line segment extending in anupper-left-to-lower-right direction.

In the present embodiment, the privacy apparatus 40 is, for example, arectangular apparatus. Moreover, the extension directions of the firstsections 430 a (or the second sections 430 b) of adjacent trenches 430on the plane of the privacy apparatus 40 may be inclined at differentinclination angles relative to an edge of the privacy apparatus 40. Asshown in FIG. 6B, the extension directions of first sections 430 a 1,430 a 2 and 430 a 3 of three adjacent trenches 430 on the plane of theprivacy apparatus 40 respectively have inclination angles β1, β2 and β3relative to an edge E40 of the privacy apparatus 40, and the extensiondirections of second sections 430 b 1, 430 b 2 and 430 b 3 of the threeadjacent trenches 430 on the plane of the privacy apparatus 40respectively have inclination angles γ1, γ2 and γ3 relative to the edgeE40 of the privacy apparatus 40. The inclination angles β1, β2 and β3may each be greater than or equal to 30 degrees and smaller than orequal to 75 degrees. The inclination angles γ1, γ2 and γ3 may each begreater than or equal to 105 degrees and smaller than or equal to 150degrees. In the present embodiment, an angle difference Δβ between twoadjacent ones of the inclination angles β1, β2 and β3 is greater than orequal to 1 degree and smaller than or equal to 6 degrees, and an angledifference Δγ between two adjacent ones of the inclination angles γ1, γ2and γ3 is greater than or equal to 1 degree and smaller than or equal to6 degrees. In addition, an angular bisector of an angle between thefirst section 430 a and the second section 430 b of the same trench 430may be parallel to the edge E40 of the privacy apparatus 40. However,the invention is not limited thereto. Herein, for explanation of therelationship between the inclination angles, all the inclination anglesare obtained by measuring an angle the extension direction of the trenchrotates in the clockwise direction to become parallel to the edge E40.However, the invention is not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, the inclination direction of the firstsection 430 a of the trench 430 is advantageous for providing theprivacy effect in the left-right direction of the drawing, and theinclination direction of the second section 430 b of the trench 430 isadvantageous for providing the privacy effect in the up-down directionof the drawing. Therefore, the privacy apparatus 40 can provide theprivacy effect at top and bottom viewing angles as well as at left andright viewing angles. In addition, in each of the trenches 430, onesingle electrically switchable optical structure 420 may be disposed,and the privacy apparatus 40 may be driven using the driving methoddescribed in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. Alternatively, in each of the trenches430, the electrically switchable optical structures 420 stacked in anupper-and-lower manner may be disposed, and the privacy apparatus 40 maybe driven using the driving method described in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B orthe driving method described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views showing a manufacturingprocess of a privacy apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 7A, the light-transmissive layer 110 isformed on a substrate 70, and the light-transmissive layer 110 includesa plurality of trenches 130 not intersecting each other. A material ofthe substrate 70 may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) orpolycarbonate (PC). A material of the light-transmissive layer 110 mayinclude a transparent UV curable optical cement. A mask 700 is placed onthe light-transmissive layer 110. The mask 700 has at least one opening710 exposing a first part 731 of the trenches 130, and the mask 700shields a second part 732 of the trenches 130.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a first electrically switchable optical material720 a is filled into the first part 731 of the trenches 130 exposed bythe opening 710 of the mask 700. A method of filling the firstelectrically switchable optical material 720 a may be a coating method,an dropping method or other suitable methods. Herein, the firstelectrically switchable optical material 720 a may include a polymerdispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material. Before performing thesubsequent steps, a curing step may be performed to cure the firstelectrically switchable optical material 720 a in the first part 731 ofthe trenches 130. A curing method mentioned herein may be determinedaccording to properties of the first electrically switchable opticalmaterial 720 a, and may be, for example, a light curing method, athermal curing method, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 7C, after the mask 700 is removed, a secondelectrically switchable optical material 720 b is filled into the secondpart 732 of the trenches 130, wherein the second electrically switchableoptical material 720 b may include a polymer dispersed liquid crystal(PDLC) material. However, the first electrically switchable opticalmaterial 720 a and the second electrically switchable optical material720 b may contain different pigments, dyes or colorants. Thus, the firstelectrically switchable optical material 720 a and the secondelectrically switchable optical material 720 b are of different colorswhen in the opaque state or when changed into the light-transmissivestate. Next, the second electrically switchable optical material 720 bis cured, thereby obtaining a privacy apparatus 50. Since the firstelectrically switchable optical material 720 a and the secondelectrically switchable optical material 720 b are distributed indifferent regions and are of different colors, when the privacyapparatus 50 performs the privacy function, a pattern presented by thefirst electrically switchable optical material 720 a and the secondelectrically switchable optical material 720 b can be seen by a viewerfrom an oblique viewing angle. Thus, the privacy apparatus 50 providesthe privacy function while presenting a pattern at an oblique viewingangle, by which flexibility of application in products is improved.

In summary, the driving method of the privacy apparatus of the inventionis applying the driving electric field to a part of the trenches torender a part of the electrically switchable optical structureslight-transmissive, and maintaining the other part of the electricallyswitchable optical structures opaque. Therefore, the pitch of theprivacy apparatus of the invention is adjustable. There is no need forthe user to replace privacy apparatuses having specific pitches in orderto correspond to pixel periods of displays having differentspecifications, and occurrence of moiré on the display screen due to thedesign of the pitch of the privacy apparatus can be prevented. Moreover,in the privacy apparatus of some embodiments of the invention, differenttrenches are inclined at different angles relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus, which is also advantageous in preventing theoccurrence of moiré on the display screen due to the design of the pitchof the privacy apparatus. In addition, in the privacy apparatus of someembodiments of the invention, the electrically switchable opticalstructures stacked in an upper-and-lower manner are disposed in eachtrench. Thus, by switching the state of the electrically switchableoptical structures in the same trench, the size and direction of theprivacy viewing angle can be adjusted. In addition, in the privacyapparatus of some embodiments of the invention, the electricallyswitchable optical structures of different colors are used, so as toenable the user to view a predetermined pattern from a side viewingangle.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the aboveembodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthat modifications to the described embodiments may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention will be defined by the attached claims and not by theabove detailed descriptions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A driving method of a privacy apparatus, whereinthe privacy apparatus comprises a light-transmissive layer and aplurality of electrically switchable optical structures, thelight-transmissive layer comprises a plurality of trenches not crossingover each other, and the plurality of electrically switchable opticalstructures are respectively disposed in the plurality of trenches, andwherein the driving method comprises: applying a driving electric fieldto a part of the plurality of trenches to render a part of the pluralityof electrically switchable optical structures light-transmissive; andmaintaining the other part of the plurality of electrically switchableoptical structures opaque.
 2. The driving method of the privacyapparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a first mode, the other partof the plurality of electrically switchable optical structures areseparated from each other by a first interval, and in a second mode, theother part of the plurality of electrically switchable opticalstructures are separated from each other by a second interval, whereinthe first interval is different from the second interval.
 3. The drivingmethod of the privacy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of electrically switchable optical structures comprise a firstelectrically switchable optical structure and a second electricallyswitchable optical structure that are stacked in an upper-and-lowermanner in each of the plurality of trenches, the driving electric fieldapplied to one of the plurality of trenches renders one of the firstelectrically switchable optical structure and the second electricallyswitchable optical structure in the one of the plurality of trencheslight-transmissive, and the other of the first electrically switchableoptical structure and the second electrically switchable opticalstructure in the one of the plurality of trenches is maintained opaque.4. The driving method of the privacy apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of electrically switchable optical structurescomprise a first electrically switchable optical structure and a secondelectrically switchable optical structure that are stacked in anupper-and-lower manner in each of the plurality of trenches, and thedriving electric field applied to one of the plurality of trenchesrenders both the first electrically switchable optical structure and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure in the one of theplurality of trenches light-transmissive.
 5. The driving method of theprivacy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofelectrically switchable optical structures comprise a first electricallyswitchable optical structure and a second electrically switchableoptical structure that are stacked in an upper-and-lower manner in eachof the plurality of trenches, a first driving electric field is appliedto a first part of the plurality of trenches and a second drivingelectric field is applied to a second part of the plurality of trenches,so that the first electrically switchable optical structure and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure in the first part ofthe plurality of trenches are both rendered light-transmissive, and thatone of the first electrically switchable optical structure and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure in the second part ofthe plurality of trenches is rendered light-transmissive and the otherrendered opaque, wherein the first driving electric field is differentfrom the second driving electric field.
 6. A privacy apparatus,comprising: a light-transmissive layer comprising a plurality oftrenches not crossing over each other; a plurality of first electricallyswitchable optical structures respectively disposed in the plurality oftrenches; a plurality of second electrically switchable opticalstructures respectively disposed in the plurality of trenches, each ofthe plurality of second electrically switchable optical structures beingstacked with one of the plurality of first electrically switchableoptical structures in an upper-and-lower manner in one of the pluralityof trenches; a first electrode layer comprising a plurality of firstelectrodes separated from each other; a second electrode layercomprising a plurality of second electrodes separated from each other,wherein the first electrically switchable optical structure and thesecond electrically switchable optical structure in the same trench arelocated between one of the plurality of first electrodes and one of theplurality of second electrodes.
 7. The privacy apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein an extension direction of each of the plurality oftrenches is inclined relative to an edge of the privacy apparatus on aplane of the privacy apparatus.
 8. The privacy apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the light-transmissive layer comprises a first trenchand a second trench not crossing over each other, wherein on the planeof the privacy apparatus, the extension direction of the first trench isinclined at a first inclination angle relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus, and the extension direction of the second trench isinclined at a second inclination angle relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus, wherein the first inclination angle is different fromthe second inclination angle.
 9. The privacy apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein each of the plurality of trenches comprises a firstsection and a second section that are connected to each other at theirends, and an extension direction of the first section is different froman extension direction of the second section on a plane of the privacyapparatus.
 10. The privacy apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theextension directions of the first sections of two adjacent trenches onthe plane of the privacy apparatus are inclined at different inclinationangles relative to an edge of the privacy apparatus.
 11. The privacyapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of trenches areparallel to each other.
 12. The privacy apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the plurality of trenches are arranged at equal intervals ornon-equal intervals.
 13. The privacy apparatus according to claim 6,wherein a material of the plurality of first electrically switchableoptical structures and the plurality of second electrically switchableoptical structures comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystalmaterial.
 14. The privacy apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a partof the plurality of first electrically switchable optical structures anda part of the plurality of second electrically switchable opticalstructures are of a first color when in an opaque state, and the otherpart of the plurality of first electrically switchable opticalstructures and the other part of the plurality of second electricallyswitchable optical structures are of a second color when in the opaquestate, wherein the first color is different from the second color.
 15. Aprivacy apparatus, comprising: a light-transmissive layer comprising aplurality of trenches not crossing over each other, wherein an extensiondirection of each of the plurality of trenches is inclined relative toan edge of the privacy apparatus on a plane of the privacy apparatus; aplurality of electrically switchable optical structures respectivelydisposed in the plurality of trenches; a first electrode layercomprising a plurality of first electrodes separated from each other; asecond electrode layer comprising a plurality of second electrodesseparated from each other, wherein each of the plurality of electricallyswitchable optical structures is located between one of the plurality offirst electrodes and one of the plurality of second electrodes.
 16. Theprivacy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality oftrenches have at least one inclination angle relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus, and the inclination angle is greater than or equal to30 degrees and smaller than or equal to 75 degrees.
 17. The privacyapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the extension directions of atleast two of the plurality of trenches are inclined at differentinclination angles relative to the edge of the privacy apparatus on theplane of the privacy apparatus.
 18. The privacy apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein each of the plurality of trenches comprises a firstsection and a second section that are connected to each other at theirends, and the extension direction of the first section is different fromthe extension direction of the second section.
 19. The privacy apparatusaccording to claim 18, wherein the extension directions of the firstsections of two adjacent trenches on the plane of the privacy apparatusare inclined at different inclination angles relative to the edge of theprivacy apparatus.
 20. A manufacturing method of a privacy apparatus,comprising: forming a light-transmissive layer, the light-transmissivelayer comprising a plurality of trenches not intersecting each other;placing a mask on the light-transmissive layer, the mask having at leastone opening, wherein the opening exposes a first part of the pluralityof trenches, and the mask shields a second part of the plurality oftrenches; filling a first electrically switchable optical material intothe first part of the plurality of trenches exposed by the opening ofthe mask; and after removing the mask, filling a second electricallyswitchable optical material into the second part of the plurality oftrenches, wherein the first electrically switchable optical material andthe second electrically switchable optical material are of differentcolors when in an opaque state.